The NHL has named Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight as the Rookie of the Month for April. The 21-year-old finished up his first full professional campaign on a high note, posting a 2.16 GAA along with a .925 SV% in seven starts for Florida this month. With veteran Sergei Bobrovsky’s numbers checking in at 3.27 and .893 respectively over that same stretch, Knight has made a strong push for playing time in their upcoming playoff series against Washington. He’s the second Panther to get the award this season, joining center Anton Lundell who received the honor in January.
Panthers Rumors
Ryan Lomberg Suspended One Game
The Department of Player Safety has handed down an automatic punishment, suspending Florida Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg one game for instigating a fight in the final five minutes of regulation. Head coach Andrew Brunette has also received a $10,000 fine.
When Lomberg confronted Erik Cernak in the final minutes of a 8-4 Tampa Bay Lightning win, he earned himself a standing ovation from the crowd in Florida, but will now have to miss a tune-up game before the playoffs. The bang-and-crash forward ended up with 27 minutes in penalties in what was a very physical game and will be held out against the Boston Bruins tomorrow night.
Brunette meanwhile earned himself a misconduct last night, as he was ejected from the match following the fight. The coach’s wallet will also be a little lighter, as he faces a fine that is actually a good bit higher than the usual DoPS player punishment, as negotiated by the CBA.
While it doesn’t really matter if Lomberg sits out a game, given the Panthers’ position at the top of the Atlantic Division, a suspension will be held against him in any further disciplinary decisions. The automatic nature of this one likely means it won’t have a big impact, though he may now have to watch his step a little bit or face more severe punishment.
Snapshots: Kakko, Acciari, Clinching Scenarios
It’s no secret that New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko has had some tough injury luck this season. He was sidelined in late January with an upper-body injury, missing about two and a half months before returning. He played just four games before suffering another injury, this time lower-body in nature, but head coach Gerard Gallant believes Kakko, who was injured on April 16th against Detroit, is expected back for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (if not sooner).
Kakko hasn’t exceeded expectations by any means on the scoresheet this season, tallying just seven goals, nine assists, and 16 points through 41 games this year. The pending restricted free agent was one of the Rangers’ best defensive forwards prior to the team’s post-deadline resurgence in that regard, so it’s not as though he hasn’t brought any real value to the table this season.
- Noel Acciari is returning to the Florida Panthers lineup once again tonight against Detroit. The veteran forward has missed most of the season due to a combination of injuries, and now, he rejoins the team after missing 10 games with an undisclosed injury. Acciari has one goal and five points in 14 games this year.
- Clinching scenarios remain boundless for tonight’s 11-game slate, with many matches still having playoff implications despite 12 out of 16 teams already clinching playoff berths. The Florida Panthers can clinch both the Atlantic Division and regular-season Eastern Conference titles with a win against Detroit, provided the Tampa Bay Lightning also defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in any fashion. The Calgary Flames will also clinch the Pacific Division title with a win of any kind against the Dallas Stars. Toronto and Carolina can also clinch home-ice advantage in the First Round, while the Wild and Blues can lock in a First Round matchup against each other.
Snapshots: Ekblad, Sharks, Valimaki
While he may not be ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, things are still looking positive regarding the health of Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Head coach Andrew Brunette said today that Ekblad remains week-to-week, but he has started skating and should return sometime in early May. That makes it seem likely that Ekblad will at least make an appearance during Florida’s First Round series, which will likely be against the Washington Capitals. It will be the second season in a row where Florida starts the playoffs without their star defenseman due to a lower-body injury, but this time around, it seems he’ll be ready to step in shortly after. Ekblad will have finished his regular season with 15 goals and 42 assists for 57 points in just 61 games, which is still currently eighth among all NHL defensemen.
More from around the NHL today:
- While San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson had been on a medical leave of absence since November, his departure announcement from the organization today still came as a shock. Long-time assistant GM Joe Will has taken duties since then, and he’ll remain in the interim position, but team president Jonathan Becher said today that the Sharks will hope to have a new GM by the beginning of next year. With that, it’s entirely possible that the Sharks head into a draft and free agency period with Will still at the helm of the club. That may not be an entirely bad thing, considering his familiarity with Becher and the club, but it takes away the chance for his successor to craft their roster ahead of next season.
- After being sent down early in the year and falling out of favor with head coach Darryl Sutter, the Calgary Flames have brought top defense prospect Juuso Valimaki back up to the big club from the AHL’s Stockton Heat. Valimaki played in 49 of the team’s 56 games last season, recording 11 points and never touching AHL ice. But after just two assists in eight games this season in limited minutes, the team opted to send Valimaki back down to the minors, where he had 17 points in 30 games. The team has no injuries on defense, so it’s a clear sign that the organization wants to see what effect his AHL stint this year had on him and whether he can be relied upon to play minutes for the team in the playoffs if injuries strike.
Panthers Activate Anton Lundell Off IR
The Panthers welcomed back a key player back to the lineup for today’s game against New Jersey as the team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve activated center Anton Lundell off IR. The rookie had missed close to a month with a lower-body injury but still sits sixth in rookie scoring with 38 points in 52 games. More importantly to Florida, Lundell will be a big boost to their penalty kill as he leads all of their forwards in shorthanded ice time per game which is an area that the Panthers will be looking to shore up down the stretch. Having their top forward in that regard back should only help their cause.
Carolina Hurricanes Acquire Max Domi In Three-Team Trade
The Carolina Hurricanes were able to make a last-second addition, acquiring Max Domi from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a complicated three-team trade just ahead of today’s deadline. The Florida Panthers are playing salary broker, retaining some of Domi’s remaining contract in order for him to fit into the Hurricanes cap situation. The deal will look like this:
To Columbus: Aidan Hreschuk
To Florida: Egor Korshkov, 2022 sixth-round pick (TOR)
To Carolina: Max Domi (50% retained CBJ, 25% retained FLA), Tyler Inamoto
None of Hreschuk, Korshkov, or Inamoto are currently signed to NHL contracts.
It’s a bit of an odd trade for the Blue Jackets, but they will end up with arguably the best prospect of the bunch out of the deal in Hreschuk. Selected 94th overall in 2021, the 19-year-old defenseman currently plays at Boston College where he registered eight points in 37 games as a freshman. He was actually ranked even higher than that by several lists going into the draft, but ended up slipping almost all the way out of the third round, likely because of concerns over his size. The 5’11” defenseman is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program and isn’t someone to overlook though, as he is very physical and engaged when playing in his own end.
Florida meanwhile will get a chance to bring a former top prospect back to North America, as Korshkov is a restricted free agent playing in the KHL. Originally selected 31st overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016, he eventually returned to Russia to play in 2020-21. This season for Yaroslavl he has scored 11 goals and 22 points, and would need a new contract if he’s going to play for Florida. A big, rangy forward, Korshkov isn’t overly physical but can use a powerful shot and surprisingly strong mobility to contribute in a depth role, if convinced to return.
Inamoto, 22, went back to play his fifth year at Wisconsin this season, where the fifth-round pick recorded just two points in 26 games. While he’s an interesting one to follow in a Carolina system known for its unique scouting group, Domi is obviously the prize here.
The 27-year-old pending UFA has nine goals and 32 points this season for the Blue Jackets, his second in Columbus since a trade from the Montreal Canadiens. Now joining his fourth NHL organization, the 12th overall pick from 2013 has 99 goals and 307 points in 482 career games. There’s no doubt that Domi can contribute on the offensive end, add some toughness and grit, too often in his previous stops he has had an inconsistent game that bordered on irresponsible defensively. It has made him a frustrating player for coaches and fans alike, given his obvious talents, but could potentially be a nice under-the-radar pickup for the Hurricanes as they push for the Stanley Cup.
If he can fit into their structure, Domi will provide another bit of firepower among a forward group that’s already one of the deepest in the league. The gamble didn’t cost them a ton, especially given how many other interesting prospects remain in the Carolina system.
Panthers Acquire Robert Hagg From Buffalo For A Sixth-Round Pick
A day after acquiring Claude Giroux from the Philadelphia Flyers, the Florida Panthers are acquiring a former Flyer in that of defenseman Robert Hagg from the Buffalo Sabres, reports Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff. The pick is expected to be a sixth-round selection in 2022, reports The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. That pick was originally the Calgary Flames’ selection, but was traded to Florida last year along with Sam Bennett.
Hagg is currently in the final year of a two-year deal, carrying a $1.6MM cap hit. As Seravalli also adds, the Panthers are expected to place defenseman Aaron Ekblad on LTIR, which will make Hagg’s cap-hit no issue for the Panthers. Per Seravalli, Ekblad is expected back in time for the first round of the playoffs.
Panthers Acquire Giroux, Rubtsov, Bunnaman For Tippett And Picks
The Florida Panthers have acquired Claude Giroux from the Philadelphia Flyers, reports The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. TSN’s Chris Johnston adds that Owen Tippett is part of the package going back to Philadelphia. The Flyers will also receive a 2024 first-round pick from the Panthers, says David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, which is top-10 protected. They will also receive a 2023 third-round pick, according to The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli (link).
In addition to Giroux, the Panthers will also receive forward Connor Bunnaman per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, as well as forward German Rubtsov and the Flyers’ 2024 fifth-round pick, adds LeBrun (link).
With the trade finally materializing, Giroux’s illustrious career on Broad Street has come to an end, and so has the sweepstakes for one of the most coveted deadline rentals in recent history. With the details all accounted for, this trade includes many moving parts on either side. The Panthers of course acquire Giroux, along with Rubtsov, Bunnaman, and a fifth-round draft pick in 2024. In exchange for their franchise icon and other pieces, the Flyers receive Tippett, a first-round draft pick in 2024, and a third-round draft pick in 2023. The Flyers will also retain 50% of Giroux’s salary, as expected.
In Giroux, the Panthers acquire an incredibly versatile player, and another star to add to their group. The 34-year-old has shown throughout his career he can produce strong offensive numbers while playing a 200-foot game, excelling on both the powerplay and penalty-kill, and is widely regarded as one of the best faceoff men in the game. To date, Giroux sits at exactly 900 career points in an even 1,000 career games, including 18 goals and 24 points in 57 games for the Flyers this season.
Giroux not only gives the Panthers another option, but should allow them to be creative in setting their lineups down the stretch and into the playoffs. He should also be able to take some pressure off of the players around him, including star center Aleksander Barkov and Hart Trophy candidate Jonathan Huberdeau.
As exciting as the blockbuster is for hockey fans, especially Panthers fans, the trade is a tough pill to swallow for the Flyers and their fans. While Giroux was expected to be dealt considering the team’s recent struggles and Giroux’s status as a UFA after this season, it is no easier to see the team’s captain, who had just celebrated 1,000 games in the NHL and in a Flyers uniform, at home on Thursday.
Nonetheless, the return for Giroux should be enough to excite the Flyers. The organization acquired two draft picks, including a third-round pick in a strong 2023 draft class, as well as a first-round draft pick in 2024. While the 2024 draft feels like it’s quite far-out, it provides the Flyers with an asset to help continue and develop their build with assets down the road. The primary centerpiece of this deal though, is Tippett. Although Tippett has not met the expectations that saw him selected 10th overall by the Panthers in 2017, he has been able to produce in both the AHL and NHL so far in his career. It’s also worth noting that Tippett has seen rather limited minutes and opportunities in his time with the Panthers, considering the talent and depth of the organization. Most likely, Flyers fans can look forward to seeing their young forward in the lineup soon.
Panthers Hopeful Aaron Ekblad Won't Be Out For Long
Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad left Friday’s game early due to a lower-body injury but interim head coach Andrew Brunette told reporters, including David Wilson of the Miami Herald, that the injury isn’t as bad as it first appeared, indicating that there was no structural damage. While there’s no timetable yet for his return, Brunette is “very hopeful” that his star blueliner won’t be out for long. Ekblad suffered a serious ankle injury late last season that took him out for the playoffs which dealt a serious blow to their postseason hopes. Although it appears he’ll miss some time, Ekblad has avoided a similar fate this time around.
Owen Tippett To Be Held Out Of AHL Lineup
The Florida Panthers, or more specifically the Charlotte Checkers, will be holding Owen Tippett out of the lineup tonight according to Darren Dreger of TSN, as trade rumors continue to swirl. Tippett has been linked directly to the Philadelphia Flyers in the past and Dreger once again notes the speculation surrounding Claude Giroux.
Tippett, 23, continues to be a dominant player at the AHL level, with points in 11 of his 12 games with the Checkers and eight in his last five appearances. That minor league success hasn’t really translated to the NHL to this point though, with the young forward racking up just 14 goals and 33 points in 94 career games. Important to remember when considering those numbers though is the role that Tippett has played for the Panthers, rarely seeing anywhere close to top-six minutes given their glut of other talented options. In fact, in his 42 appearances this season he’s broken the 15-minute mark just five times and averages 12:32 on the year.
There is reason to believe that Tippett can produce at a higher level if he’s given the chance. A brilliant goal scorer in the OHL, he was picked tenth overall in 2017. Because of his situation so far, there is actually an interesting opportunity for any acquiring team. Tippett will be a restricted free agent this summer but is still not arbitration-eligible. With his depressed NHL statistics, he won’t be able to negotiate much of a raise over his entry-level salary and perhaps would even be open to a multi-year bridge deal at a relatively low cost. If someone believes that he can take a big step forward quickly–and a team like the Flyers is known to want players that can make an impact right away as they try to avoid a rebuild–he could provide quite a bit of excess value.
An injury at this point would certainly throw a wrench in those plans, meaning Tippett will likely be held out through Monday or until a trade is completed. Giroux meanwhile is set to play in his 1,000th game with the Flyers tonight, a threshold that needed to happen before any deal was possible.
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